The Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. John Kumah has assured Ghanaians that government will continue to protect public sector jobs and social investments throughout its engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said the government would ensure that all social investments and job creation initiatives in the public sector are not affected by its negotiations with the Fund for a support programme.
Dr John Kumah gave the assurance yesterday when he addressed members of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists, IFEJ and the Parliamentary Press corps on the 2020 midyear budget on zoom.
In a question asked by the Editor of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Mr Adu Koranteng as to whether the government would adhere to an IMF conditionality to freeze public sector employment?, he said the Fund is aware of ongoing challenges in the global economy and its impact on Ghana, hence it will not recommend any conditionality that will impose further restrictions on job creation and social investments.
“The IMF is aware that they don’t have a good name in Africa and other parts of the world when it comes to their programmes and they are determined to now reverse such negative tags on them” he explained.
“They are very receptive to proposals from government on how best to alleviate the difficulties rather than just instantly creating hardships into the system. So I believe we will preserve certain important programmes like job creation and some public investments” he added.
The virtual meeting with the media was to engage further on the Mid-Year Budget Review by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, which saw some growth and fiscal targets revised downwards.
John Kumah also used the occasion to explain some policy interventions mentioned in the presentation.
According to him, the government is cutting down expenditure in order to make room for funds to open up opportunities for innovative programmes like the You start and other youth-centred initiatives.
By Adu Koranteng – Korantengadu@gmail.com
